Selected poems from "Evening Palette"
by
Jo Lee Dibert-Fitko
 
 
 
 
Flip Side Ad
 
 
1934.
Her arm slid down
the side of a
shiny new Buick
until her hand grasped
the door handle.
Body posed into
perfect model molding.
Walnut hair coifed in
swimming smoooth waves.
Calf length skirt
skimming warm angles
and curves.
Deep red lipstick
circling the most
inviting of smiles.
A center page spread
selling the hottest
of cars.
A sheet of advertising.
   Only it wasn't.
No female vamped here
to sell four wheeled
lines.
Not when she could
strip bright chrome
to dull bareness
in seconds.
Leave new designs
quickly outdated.
Her laughing gaze could
pierec scratches in glass.
Soft strength tople
stell to a meek limpness.
She continues masquerading
this way in family photos.
Maintaining her wit
and suave ways.
Refusing to adhere
to the pages.
It seems to me
she's always known
tactful mockery of
tasteless ads,
who really deserved
promotion's pleas
and who would crumble
into orange rust,
broken glass
and the
rotted out rubber
of decay.
 
in celebration of my mother, Lillian J. Dibert
 
 
 
 
Latex White
 
 
Pry open eagerly
the lidded gallon
because
there is something
about
   white paint.
A massive vanilla
malt
that sucks up
through the straw
to
throat's downhill
   slide
and stick stirring
contents
like a huge vat
   encourage me
to dive in for
a porcelain dressing
of slick,
   shiny clean
drippings,
then sponge myself
against
your porous canvas
begging.
This stark bold
contrast to everything
   teases
primary's colors to
bright displays
and
a two-coat milkiness
denies mockingly
   you ever
existed.
Creamery richness.
Luscious diversion.
   I'd like to
dip my toes in
your tub
and stamp an all day
   walking trail
   of ivory
spontaniety,
then savor the
pearly tipped bristles
   and slink
   away for
graffiti's glowing
   runaway
     finale.
 
 
 
Celebrating George
  ( George Sand / 1804-1876)
 
 
The camaraderie struck me.
I saw her riding fearlessly
on horseback. Hair flying.
Facing the briskness of the wind.
Clad in men's coat and slacks.
I could hear Baronesss Dudevant
mock the speaker. Telling me the ride
can be rough at times. Persistence
such an unglamorous trait.
 
Passionate writer.
Spewing papered words of magnificence.
Confessional of political frustrations.
Social mores. The public debated whether
your attire or novels or morals were
more shocking or scandalous.
As if the sensitivity of a woman's truth
must always lie in delicate innocence,
harbored guilt or the softness of skin.
You produced genuine life on paper.
Adjectives stark with no regrets
and they squirmed.
 
I know you in the present tense.
Feel driven by the gutsy emotionalism
of your language. I imagine us in
soft red velvet gowns, exchanging names,
reciting our wares in the sweetest of
voices. Judgments still the same.
Laughing. Crying. Screaming. Rejoicing.
Writing fiction to tease the facts.
Pens dripping honest ink. Horses
unbridled for a zealous ride.
 
 
Jo Lee Dibert-Fitko, writer, poet, photographer, social worker and cartoonist resides in Michigan. Her work has appeared in over 100 publications nationwide as well as Europe. Jo Lee switched careers to writing and cartooning after hospitalization with a pitutary brain tumor and spinal meningitis,turning a life threatening illness into a life affirming experience. A University of Michigan graduate,she has been a featured speaker in Michigan, Illinois and Ohio, including Guest Poet Honors at the Printer's Row Bok Fair in Chicago.
 
Jo Lee has garnererd numerous poetry and cartoon awards and is the author of two books, "Evening Palette"( poetry) and "...You Never Asked For This!"( Adult Cartoon/Coloring Book). She has been featured in newspapers as well as radio/television. Her work is edited by an opinionated feline, Simon. Learn more about Jo Lee by visiting her web site at www.dibertdiversions.com. Both books are published by Infinity Publishing ( 877-BUY-BOOK). She may be contacted directly at (989) 652-3174 or dibertdiversions@charter.net